How will the African Cup of Nations affect Swansea City's relegation rivals?

The biennial tournament gets underway in Gabon on January 2014

Bob Bradley, Mike Phelan and David Moyes are all facing a relegation battle.

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In December 2014, with Swansea City riding high in eighth place in the Premier League, they were struck with a double blow to their New Year fortunes.

In-form playmaker Ki Sung-Yeung would be missing for the whole of January on duty with South Korea in the 2015 Asia Cup. While top-scorer Wilfried Bony linked up with the Ivory Coast for their triumphant African Cup of Nations campaign.

Ultimately the absences had little bearing on the Swans' short term prospects — Garry Monk's side finished the season in eighth with a record Premier League points tally — but neither Ki nor Bony rediscovered their previous Swansea form in the aftermath. In fact, Bony returned from Ivory Coast duty as a Manchester City player, with Manuel Pellegrini's men tabling a £28million bid the Swans could not turn down.

Two years later, there are no such concerns for Bob Bradley. Swansea's only African player, Modou Barrow , will remain in South Wales after his native Gambia failed to qualify for the tournament.

But with the Cup of Nations taking place between January 14 and 5 February it could be a crucial three weeks in the Premier League relegations fight. There are four rounds of fixtures in that time — and the Swans will be buoyed by the news that many of their rivals will be hit hard by call ups to the competition.

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Sunderland

With David Moyes apparently unhappy with his squad and its limited depth, January could be a time of significant change on Wearside. The Black Cats could see their defence decimated by call-ups to Africa, with influential centre back Lamine Kone expected to be included in the Ivory Coast squad.

Papy Djilobodji could feature for Senegal, leaving Moyes with a threadbare back line. Midfielder Didier N'Dong has been an integral part of recent Gabon squads and seems set to be a key man for the 2017 hosts.

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West Ham

Slaven Bilic's men are slowly creeping away from the relegation places, earning an impressive point at Old Trafford on Sunday.

But they are just one point above the drop zone and three points ahead of the Swans. So the absence of three keys players in January could be a hammer blow for the Irons. They may yet become embroiled in the scrap.

Cheikhou Kouyate has been an ever-present in the league this season, featuring in a number of positions across defence and midfield. He will be a real miss when, as expected, he joins up with Senegal in January.

Diafra Sakho 's long-awaited return against Manchester United was tempered by yet another injury problem. He is unlikely to be included in the Senegal squad, but may be sidelined in any case.

Kouyate and Sakho celebrate with former Hanmmers' star Enner Valencia

And it's a case of sweet irony for the Swans, with Ghana vice captain and former Swan Andre Ayew certain to feature for his country in the New Year.

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Hull City

It has been a rough ride for Mike Phelan since taking the permanent manager's job at Hull. And the loss of his only fit striker Dieumerci Mbokani , who will lead the line for the Democratic Republic of Congo in January, could have enormous consequences.

Will Keane and Abel Hernandez both picked up serious injuries in the Tigers' win over Southampton, and though Hernandez should return in the New Year, Phelan will also be without Ahmed Elmohamady who has been called up by seven-time Cup of Nations winners Egypt for the tournament.

Ahmed Elmohamady gets to grips with Charlie Austin of Southampton

Given Hull's plight since a shock double win at the outset of the season, January could be another awkward month on Humberside.

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Crystal Palace

Another side who will be hit hard by the competition, following Wilfried Zaha 's decision to declare himself available for Ivory Coast this week.

Zaha, who grabbed the first goal of a nine-goal thriller at the Liberty Stadium last weekend, is a hugely influential forward player for Alan Pardew's out-of-sorts Eagles. Fellow forwards Connor Wickham and Loic Remy are out injured so Palace might struggle for goals. With a defence conceding 14 goals in four games, that's bad news.

Middlesbrough

The only other team who won't be affected by the Cup of Nations, Boro could still be drawn into the relegation fight despite a recent upturn in Aitor Karanka's side's fortunes and a squad boasting a clean bill of health.

They've only lost one of their last five, but like West Ham are a solitary point above the drop zone.

Leicester City

They couldn't, could they? What seemed unthinkable at the start of the season, suddenly seems possible: The Premier League champions could be relegated.

Especially if you consider the absence of talisman Riyad Mahrez will be missing. Last season's PFA Player of the Year is an absolute magician on his day and despite going through an ordinary patch at the start of this season, he'll be sorely missed by Claudio Ranieri if he's called up by Algeria as expected.

Mahrez will be an enormous absentee for Leicester (Photo: Getty Images)

Fellow midfield star Daniel Amartey could also be called up by Ghana, leaving the Foxes with Danny Drinkwater, Andy King, Ahmed Musa and Marc Albrighton in a makeshift midfield four.